No matter the purpose, it is great that GDT is taking the time to read and post here at all. I appreciate this attempt to communicate with the fans and to reassure us so very much! And if he has lurked a bit, I am sure he is already warned what a passionate bunch the LotR fans can be! You shouldn't forget that the Hobbit will not be the first Tolkien film, but that the trilogy is already made, and he surely knows the different reactions the first three films got. I do not suffer from LotR obsession - I enjoy every minute of it.